After exploding onto the new music scene with the first single and title track from his forthcoming debut album ‘Glitra’, Brijs now looks to bring more of that bright and vibrant energy as he returns with ‘Velvet Ditch’.
The second of six singles due to be released this year, ‘Velvet Ditch’ is a high energy, three and a half minute juggernaut of pop-leaning psych rock that takes us back to the beginning of the story behind Brijs’ record. Written during the time he spent living in a dilapidated mansion called Cecil Court, the track was inspired by a phrase used to describe its sleepy surroundings – a rural town “so comfortable, you’ll never want to get out”.
Speaking about his latest offering, the artist said, “The first verse is a nod to my friend Harry and his older brother Jack, the drummer from Warmduscher. Harry had told me about the phrase ‘velvet ditch’ during a rant about him feeling trapped in our hometown. At that time his brother was touring all over the place, seeing the world, whilst Harry was still living at home trying to save money for his version of an exit.
“Ironically for me it was returning to my hometown that was the escape. My velvet ditch was life in London before writing the album – I was working flat out as a salaried composer in Soho and if I wasn’t working late, I was at an industry event or party. The money was good but I was starting to feel washed out, stagnant and like I’d lost sight of why I wanted to make music. So I was already looking for an escape when a property guardianship of this crumbling old house came up for £300 a month… A huge place, massive windows, over-grown garden, terraces covered in wisteria. I could write and record there for next to nothing. It was like a light on the horizon – I decided to pursue it.
“‘Velvet Ditch’ is about recognising the moment when you become so comfortable you stop moving. A safe job, a stale relationship, living rent free at your parents home – the point is it takes a different shape depending on the person.”
The track was produced by Rob Brinkmann, long serving engineer of RAK Studios (Drake, Royal Blood, Pixies, Clean Bandit & Mumford and Sons) and mixed and mastered at Abbey Road by Oli Morgan (Bastille, Princess Nokia). As with the previous release, Brijs created the vivid artwork for ‘Velvet Ditch’ himself.
Prior to releasing ‘Glitra’ Brijs’ had been focusing on his work as a composer. You may have heard Brijs’ work on numerous award-winning film and TV projects for the BFI, BBC and Channel 4, as well as commissions for Mario Testino, Rankin, Kurt Geiger and Liu Jo. His talents as a songwriter and producer have also landed him upcoming collaborations with artists including Will Joseph Cook, Girli and Indian Askin.
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